davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1887-09-24

Equinoxial Storm overriding!
bang! they are full of power again.
The trees are being relieved of
their green foliage already; from
which we can infer Autumn is here.
The rain the past week or so has
done much to further the growth of
vegetables, grain &c. Somebody
said about two inches of rain fell in
town on Wednesday night. That
fellow got "ducking," you bet, but
how did he measure? we don't grasp
the situation.
The farmers in this section of the
country are busily engaged in cut
ting corn, preparing the soil for seed
ing &c. Most farmers will COM
mence about the LIST of October.
Cider is being made in many places
by hand presses, but not in large
quantities, as apples are very scarce.
Two weeks ago an aged and res
pectable colored woman was coming
from Winchester, on the Stage, to-
gether with two would be gentlemen,
who used improper language in her
presence and soiled her clothes with
tobacco, which was both disgraceful
and ungentlemanly. She stopped at
Darkesville and reported them to the
Justice of Peace. Such persons who
have no more respect for the aged,
either white or colored, should be
brought to justice.
Prof. Luscomb passed through
here on Wednesday, eaeroute for Win
chester, where he has in charge large
class of music.
The INDEPENDENT suggested last
week, alt was better to have the
Maj" indisposed than disposed Of"
Beatrice" blesses you with the nat
ural blessings of her heart. She
would; but he won't dispose Of him.
self WE KNOW, and surely we don't
want to "dispose of him." so we
leave the thoughts as those of the
past.
A number of visitors have been
present lately and have seemed to
enjoy their visits hugely. Miss Will
lie Carroll, a pleasant young lady of
Burlington, Mineral county, is max
ing a prolonged visit to her sister.
Mrs. J. T. Fisher. Miss Blanche
Brewer of Mercersburg, Pa, is spend
ing several weeks with Misses Lille
and Carrie Clendening. We find her
to be quite affable, and her numer-
Gus friends are sorry her visit is
drawing to close.
Mr.. Will Snyder, of Capon Bridge,
has obtained a position with Mr.
Fisher. He is intelligent and genial
and no doubt Mr.. Fisher can con-
graduate himself upon securing his
services.
Mr.. G. F. Louis, ST., is still very
i'll; and Mr.. David Stewart, who has
been quite i'll I've are glad to see about
again.
Messrs. photograph, Harry Day
hoff and Clarence Urtz, of Hagers-
town, Md, were in this village this
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-03-17
A Book as a Dowry.

1 was speaking Just now Of the
secondhand book-stalls that line the
qua,s on the south bank of the Seine,
writes Paris correspondent. of the
New York Graphic There are hum
dreds. if NOT thousands, of dry-as dust
old chaps who spend their lives ing
ing over by day, and dreaming by,
night. OF the treasures they CON ain
Here Is curious aud true romance Of
one Of these mustv shops.
An old bachelor OF 80, an inveterate
''bonquineur, OF haunter of the
secondhand bOok-stalls, had an old
woman servant named-Augustine, who,
by dlnt OF arranging and dusting her
master library, had become inocul4te5
with the same mania. Si1a paid fire.
quent visits to the too attraJ tive auays,.
and ended by spending ali her wages
in books-and none but old books, be-
1t understood
One AFTERNOON, little before dinner
time, she arrived out OF breath with .
package OF the precious volumes, pur-
chased At the - 'C3urdes Miracles and
'iIrande IruInderie' of Partisan books -
Out Of curiosity her master looked over
the new acquisitions. Suddenly HIS
face frightened up.
''And what did You pay for this
one? he asked, pointing to q very,
worm-eaten volume.
Fifteen SOUS, replied Augustine
Fifteen sous? Why. it's worth
10000 francs" cried the book-hunter,
III 4 transport of enthusiasm.
Hardly had the words left his mouth
when he was conscious of having COM
mitted Il stupid blunder In vain he
tried to modify his rash statement
''Pll give you % francs for it." he
said
Monsieur said it was worth 10000
francs"
Augustine was cunning and stood to-
her guns. 1t was Il very rare first edi-
ton of Mnntai"ne. To no purpose did
lie tfE Ia beat her down. She wouldn't
take Il sou less than 10000 francs. and
he couldn't / afford to @ive>so large a
price. That night The. bachelor dream
Ell of the mattainable treasure. of
course valued the more from its being
just beyond his reach
At last he could hold out no longer.
Ihe temptation was too great. He
must have the volume ..coute- que
coute. His mind was made UP.
The woman takes good care of
me. he reasoned with himself: ..she
seems TO have my tastes; why should.
| not marry her? l would then own
the Mnntaigne."
A. he WAS the next morning as much
under the control of his ruling passion
us ever, he carried his resolution of the.
night before into effect. and married
his servant, who brought him musty
old book as Il doWrv.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-03-17
LIDerty's Torch.

The noble BarthOldi statue in New
York harbOr, SAYS writer in Science.
suffers Il great injustice, so far as the
idea of its conception goes and the re-
quisites for its most complete artistic
presentation are concerned. in being
made to hold a star in its hand poorly
represents the lambent and rolling
stalks of fire which the thought of q
torch suggests. and fails to accentuate
the statue with any dramatic OF specta-
cular force
The attempt should be made to burn
II large volume of gas properly distri-
buted over the present surface of the
torch, and this would seem altogether
feasible. A consumption OF from a
thousand TO two thousand cubic feet
of gas per hour might be required. but
the result would be incomparablv more
striking and noteworthy. 4 series of
one-inch pipes passing up into the
torch, emerging at various points 50
as to completely invest il with the con-
fluent flames issuing from their open
ingS. would probably serve the pur-
pose, the gas being permitted to burn
HiNtCi d pressure Jul 7IlSntlh III excess
of its own ascensional power Two
objections might he urged against this
proposition-lil'st. the smokiness of
the flame. producing an ugly and dirty
appearance; second, the probability of
its extinction iu high gales. The
first objection has not much weight
as the tail of drifting smoke would
hardly detraet from the splendor of
the pillar of flame, and in any case
could be considerably overcome by an
etferent tube with perforated circular
cap feeding air to the summit of the
torch. somewhat on the plan of the
central air channel in the popular
climax oil lamp. The second object
ion is valid. but only in extreme cases:
and, as the gas should be lit by electri-
city, the highest gales would only alter
the constancF of Lhe light. its rxtinC~
tion being succeeded by the renewed
flame. Again by culving the extremi-
ties of the pipe. even these exceptional
eases might be yet further reduced in
number. The gas might be supplied
from the mainland. or if that appears
too expensive, or itself impracticable.
naphtha or gas (enriched air) could be
safely used, the precaution being taken
of substituting for the large tubes bum
dies of smaller pipes,
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-03-17
Secretary Lamar on War.

Il used to think" Mr. Lamar went
on to say, before | SAW much fight
ing, that the slaughter must be fright
full. 1 could not see how, where so
many bullets were flying. there was
any chance ut all for men to escape be-
ing hit. But soon wondered how
anybody was hit at all. Ny men that
day at Williamsburg shot themselves
all out of ammunition twice. When
we went into bivOuac at night l went
about asking the boys how they felt
l met one big Mississippian from my
home town:
. John did you fire off all your
powder?"
:. No he said. i tried hard all
day, colonel, to do my best. and |
didn't fire but twice. All day long /
didn't draw bead on Yankee but
twice. I've got my ammunition here, ;
and he tapped his cartridge box.
i" You fired twice. | said. Did
you hit 'em those times9'
Well. colonel. to tell the truth |
missed one Yank. and I'm in doubt
about the other.
That illustrates war;" said the
secretary. "A lot Of men march out
and proceed TO create Il lot of acci-
dents. The side that can produce the
most accidents for the greatest num-
ber of consecutive hours wins the
day ~ ]. Sun.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-03-17
- s-@---------
Wonderful Richard Donovan.

There recently died at PotSdam. ST.
Lawrence county. Richard Donovan,
who was in some RESPECTS one OF the
most remarkable iuen in northern New
York. Twenty Years ago, when boy,
Donovan lived i'll this city and worked
in flour mill One day he was
caught i'll Il belt and received injuries
that nece>sitsted taking of both arms
at the shoulders.
This great misfortune did not dis
courage him. and after recovering his
health he set about earning his hveli-
hood as best he could without the use
of hands or arms. Part of the time he
had lived alone. and from the necessity
of helping himself he became wonder
fully adept in performing all kinds OF
work. using his feet and mouth pIin-
cipally. He owned Il horse of which
he took the entire care, harnessed it,
fastened and unfastened the buckles
with his teeth. ami drove with the reins
tied around his shoulders. Being in
need of u wagon. he bnught wheels
and axleS and built 4 box buggy COM
plete and painted it. He went to the
barn one winter day and bnilt cow
stable. saving the lumber with his feet,
and. with the hammer in one foot and
holding the nail with the other. he
nailed the boards on as we'll as most
men could with their hands. He dug
we'll twelve feet deep on farm il
this town and stoned it himself He
could mow away hay by holding the
fork under his chin and letting it rest
against his shoulder. He would pick
up potatoes in the field as fast as a
man could dig them. He would dress
himself, get his meals, write his letters,
and, in fact, do almost anything that
any man with two arms could do. He
was engaged for some time with
Thomas Collins of Potsdam i'll the sale
of buggies and sleighs, and has lately
been engaged in buying and selling
hides and pelts. By his industry and
frugality he succeeded In amassing a
snug little property-owned a house
and lot, and was worth in all about
HatertoaCa Times, Z
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-03-17
Mrs. John Bigelow and Mrs. blaine:

The eccentricities of Mrs John Bi1e-
low have been table talk on both sides
of the ocean for twenty years Many
of the stories told about her are we'll
known, and so many keep coming up
that. as one clever New York woman
protested. ''let us not begin. to talk
about Mrs. Bigelow, for it spoils con-
versation." The best of all the anec-
dOteS about Mrs. Bigelow, and one com
paratiyely new, is of her making Mrs
Blaine carry her rubber overshoes home
to Mrs. Bigelow's boarding house in
this city, while Mrs Bigelow went ON a
round Of pleasure rejoicing 1t hap
pened that Mrs. Biyeiow. coming out
from one afternoon reception, met Mrs.
Blaine also just leaving the scene.
II suppose, as you are such a great
parsonage, You have your carriage,
Mrs. Blaine, and can give me a ift,"
said Mrs. Bigelow
Il would gladly" she said, ssbut |
am hurrying To the Capitol to bring
MIR. Blaine down, | will belate now"
Mrs. Bigelow was not daunted, and.
assuring her that ii w0nld not be the
:.
few blocks out of the way 10 leave hel
at her boarding house, walked on to the
carriage with her. On the way the
eccentric lady met her own daughter
and Il Young man, and with slight cere.
mony she ordered them into the car.
riage and told the footman where Miss
Bigelow wished to be dropped for some
afternoon tea. quite in another drec-
ton from the Capitol. On arriving at
the place Mrs. Bigelow decided that she
would go into the tea instead of going
home, and as she descended from the
comfortable landau she turned and
pressed into Mrs. Blaine's hands her
rubber overshoes, saving: just leave
them ut the house as you go by, and il
will be all right" In that way, before
she could protest or tell how it happen
ed, Mrs Blaine was driving down the
street and ringing the boarding house
door bell and discharging her errand.-
Chicago Herald
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-03-17
Ben Buffers Dry Smoke.

The dignity which surrounds the
United States supreme court is some
thing appalling. No one is permitted
the court. Note books are also prohib-
tied. and the attorney or spectator who
attempts to make an abstract of the pro-
ceedings is quickly notified to desist.
Benjamin +. Butler, of Massachusetts.
was guilty of an infraction of the rules
yesterday, which those who sat near
enough to overhear the collOquy that
ensued enjoyed immensely. Don NJ.
Dickinson of Michigan, was speaking
when Gen. Butler entered. The gener-
al Immediately dropped into the vacant
chair. Then drawing cigar from his
pocket he proceeded to enjoy what is
known as a .'dry smoke" His action
threw the vigilant state officials into
state of terror, from which they have
not yet recovered. Marshal Nicolay
Immediately rushed forward, and seiz-
ing the general by the arm, exclaimed
''Remove your cigar at once. sir!''
The generals eyes twinkled malic-
iously as he placed his hand to his ear
and said, Speak louder"
''You can not smoke here. It's
against the rules" repeated Mr.. Nico-
lay, emphatically.
I'm not smoking" growled Gen.
Butler, still holding the cigar In his
teeth.
81 know you're not smoking" was
the marshal's reply; '.but you must not
keep that cigar in Your mouth"
Gen. Butlerpeplied that he had a bad
cold and that it always relieved him to
take dry smoke. but the marshal in
sisted so vigorously that either the gen.
eral OF the cigar must go that be finally
submitted TO the inevitable, and threw
the cigar from him with such force that
it hit Lawyer Storrow on the leg and
broke into half a dozen pieces. Wash
ington cor. n, Y. Herald.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-03-17
Why Shoes Are Thrown at Weddings,

The custom of throwing one or more
old shoes after the bride and groom.
either when they go to church to be
married or when they start on their
wedding journey, is SO old that the
memory of man stretches not back to
its beginning. Some think it repre-
sents an assault, and is a lingering
trace of the custom among savage ma
tiOns of carrying away the bride by
violence; others think that it is relic
of the ancient law of exchange or pur-
chase. and that it formerly implied the
surrender by the parents of all domin-
ion or authority over their daughter.
1t has Il likeness to Jewish custom
mentioned in the Bible. Thus in Deu-
teronOmy We read that when the brother
of a dead man refused to marry his
widow she asserted her independence
of him by ''loosing his shoe" Also in
Ruth. when the kinsman of Boaz gave
up his claim to the inheritance of Ruth
and TO Ruth also he Indicated his as
sent by plucking off his shoe and
giving it to Boaz. 1t was also the Gus
tom of the middle ages to place the
husband shoe ON the head of the nup-
tial couch, in token of his domination
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-03-17
a Curious Gas Well.

There are many curious phennmenR
ever present at the natural gas wells
in this vicinity" said the owner OF
several wells, but | have never seen
any that struck me as being so pecu-
liar as those that were witnessed few
yeats ago at a we'll in the Canada oil
field at Sarnia The well was being
drilled for oil, and at the depth of 600
feet great volume of gas was found.
The gas was accidentally set on fire As it
rushed from the well. A fountain OF
flame more than fifty feet high was the
result. That in itself was wonderful
phenomenon for that district then, hut
is as common as water hydrants In
this region.
The peculiarity of the we'll was that
every fifteen minutes, as regular as a
clock could mark the time, stream of
water three inches in diameter spouted
from the depths and mingled with the
burning gas. The force of the water
{: carried the flames up more than hun
dred feet, and separated them in sprays
and showers of fire. The chemical
composition of the water was such that
there were certain inflammable quail
ties in it, and these would make bright
" colored lights to mingle with the
dull flame of the gas itself, creating a
natural pyrotechnical display that l
never saw squale.l artiicially. Streaks
of bright yellow. globes of purple. and
fantastic shapes in red. pink, and blue
leaped and danced and whirled about
in that warning mass of fire in a man
ner that was enchanting. The eruption
of water lasted exactly three minutes,
when it would cease, and the flame OF
the gas would resume its normal con-
dition. While the water was mingled
with the flame q strong smell of sui
phur pervaded the air.
"A strange thing connected with the
burning well was the way birds Of all
kinds were attracted to it during the
time the water was spouting. They
would circle about the pillar of fire,
uttering their different cries, and acting
as if they were frantic. Frequently
the flames would catch some unfortu
nate bird in its flight. and it would fal
either dead or dying to the ground
This fire had such an effect on many
kinds of birds that they would light il
the midst of spectators, and sutfel
themselves to be caught. The owner
uf the well tried every means ther
. known to extinguish the burning gas
but all to no purpose. 1t burned with
out- any show of ever giving out fol
two years. and then went out one day
almost as suddenly as it had appeared.
Washington Pa Letter,
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-03-17
A Juvenile Speculator.

Two years ago a bright-faced lad Of
Is wes hired 5y stock broker, with
offices about 100 yards from the ex-
change, to chalk on the blackboard now
used in many Offices the prices of stocks
as they appeared On the tape. The lad
then wore ill-fitting clothes, but his in
genunu5 WAYS attracted the attention of
the broker > customers and he soon be-
came a favorite Yesterday the lad,
now IL, wearing an expensive suit aud
neat but costly jewelTy. told how he
had lost $3.50 at poker Il few nights ago,
and won that amount and more at the
next sitting. He incidentally remarked
that the stock market was against him
81 800, but that he was s.. 100 ahead on
cotton. He still chalhs the ticker prices
on the blackboard, and III all probabil-
ity some future SIM reporter will speak
of his success in Wall street as a broker
OF record his utter destruction, for the
lad is of the sort To come out IA big win
ner OF get battered To tlinders-N 7.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-03-17
FecuIiarities OF Reagan.

Representative Reagan Ia now near
ten Years younger. The gray has not
Vet crept into his short black hair, and
his round, dark face IL uuseamei with
wrinkles, He walks about briskly,
rides to and from the capitol in the
street cars, and is as approachable as
any public man in Washington. He is
of medium height. rotlnd in furm, and
weighs, | should judge. over 200
pounds. He wears black slouch hat
and clothes of rough goods, which are
made with little apparent Gaze as TO
their style and cut. His face is al
ways smoothly shayen, and it reminds
YOU of the colonial statesmen whom
You see in the picture of the signing of
the Declaration of Independence in the
rotumda of the capitol. He has black
ewes, fat nose, and 4 rather heavy
jaw. He talks in cultural tone with
out gesture, and he is not an attractive
speaker. He is very earnest in his
speeches, however, and does not often
talk buncombe. When he speaks he is
never at ease unless he has string in
his hand, and he keeps pulling this
through his fingers as he talks. His
favorite position, when Listening 10 =
discussion in the House. is sitting back
in his chair with Il piece of white letter
paper in his hands This he folds up
carefully, and with his jack-knife cuts
through the folds. The two pieces of
paper he now lays together. folds
them, and cuts them in pieces. He
reduces these pieces still smaller in
the same way, and when he has used
up one piece of paper he takes another,
So he goes on for hours at time,
until his desk is Uttered with scraps Of
paper.-CIeceldnd Ledtter.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-03-17
Mr.. w. F. Allen has given some i

Mr.. W. F. Allen has given some in
teresting data concerning the introduce
ton of the new twentyfour hour clock
scale, Though meeting at first with
considerable opposition, like most 9TH
er innovations, it is gradually extend
ing. 1t is already in use on the Canad-
ian Pacific Railroad, west of Winnipeg,
upon the Manitoba & Northwestern
Railroad, and upon the Idaho Division
of the Union Pacific, So satisfactory
has its adoption proved to the railways
and the towns along their lines that
propositions to introduce it throughout
the Union Pacific and Canadian Pacific
systems are being seriously agitated.
Particular attention is called to the fact
that the Neutrality-suspicious. scheme is in
use throughout the extensive telegraph
systems between Great Britain, Egypt,
India, South Africa, China, Australia,
and New Zealand.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-03-17

The English fish commission has re-
Gently presented to the United States
government large number of English
soles The sole will thrive in this coun-
try, and large nursery tank at Isles
hatchery has been prepared for the re-
ception OF the gift. Some of the fish
died in transportation. but fifty of them
have been placed in the tank, and the
young nSh will scatter along the coast
from Maine to the capes OF the Della
ware.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-03-17

Melinite, new explosive with which
the French military authorities are ex-
perimenting, is said TO have ten times
the power OF nitro-glycerine, and 100
times that of gunnowder. General
Boulanger has decidea on the immedi-
ate manufacture of 100000 melinite
projectileS.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-03-17

Rhysietan and Surgeon. OFFICE East end of
Phenix Block, up stairs, Ravenna. o. Resi-
dence. on Pratt Street, west side. first house
south Of Main. T0-amS
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-03-17
PETER FLATH.

Viothier aud Merchant Tailor, Hats, Caps
and Furnishing Goods. Phenix BLOCK Main
Street, RavennA. Ohio
O~t. IL. iess. ~
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-03-17
e. III. GRIFFIN,
w. W. WHITE, M. D.,

DENTIsT. Once over First N National Bank
~ Once hours from 8. m. to p. m.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-03-17
Who Hath Not Heard?

Who hath not heard at the first break of day,
Borne clear ana far upon the morning sir,
The deep tones of bell that seemed TO say:
Awake! Awake! Awake. To work and
prayer"
Who hath not at the noon hour heard again,
When those who toll to languish have be-
gun.
The same deep tones encouraging refrain:
''Toil-onl Toil-on! Toil-on. The days half
DONE.
And who at evening hath not also heard.
When heads do ache and hands and feet are
sore.
That message clear with balm in every word
'To-resti forest! forrest! Thy work is
Ger"
And ere the first vibration dies away
In sweetest echo on the distant air,
The pious people who do own its sway,
Cross hearts and bare their heads in client
prayer.
They love the bell, their monitor and friend
And dear, indeed, its voice Is to them all;
To them its precious music eer doth lend
sacredness to duty 5 every call.
Then ring, . bell, at morn, at noon, at night
The birth, the life, the death of the dear
Lord;
Still let thy mellow eadenees invite
Mankind to work and pray with one accord.
Columbus Dispatch.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-03-17

AyOTAlkY PUBLIC, Mantua. o. Con-
IN veyaneing, Collections and Pension Busi-
oCss promptly attended 10 on the most reason
able terms. oi2-u.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-03-17

M. G. MCBRIDE, M. D.,
Homeopathic Physician and Surgeon.
OFFICE in Poe's Block, over Grocery of b. A.
VanN eSs,
REsIDENcE on Cleveland Avenue. 9th residence
North of Bowery street. sI7